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Original poster

Tests for school children

51 replies

KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 05:26

Hi. We've been sent an email asking for the kids to do a test before they go back to school, and to keep these up weekly. I have no idea if this is standard, I've distanced myself from the news as much as I can.

We've been lucky & none of us (myself & 2 children) have had Covid as far as I know... I was taking the tests weekly when schools went back last time & a few weeks back I did one on each of the kids as we were visiting family with somebody having cancer treatment.

My kids absolutely HATE the tests. They both cried, both asked me to stop, both said they never want to do another one, both have talked about it since saying they don't want any more.

I have said from the start that we might have to do more & that's just how it is.
But the thought of doing these weekly, is it just a case of suck it up & get on with it? How are other people managing?

OP posts:
PenguinsCantFly · 30/08/2021 05:33

Which ones did you use? I ordered some from the gov website earlier this month, and a newer type arrived - just to be used inside each nostril - not all the way up the nose and not in the throat.

I found these ones much easier to use on my dc.

Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 05:37

Thanks Penguins I probably used the older ones then as they are what I had from the back to school testing. I did both nostrils thinking it would be easier but yes, it was the all the way up the nose but they hated.

I have ordered some more so hopefully they will be different.

OP posts:
tigger1001 · 30/08/2021 06:07

How old are they?

Where I am it's in secondary aged kids who are asked to do them. And if either of mine said no then I wouldn't make them. They are not mandatory and I would worry that if I made it a battle it would make it far more difficult to do a pcr if one was required.

Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 06:15

tigger They are 8 & 4.

That's my thinking too, but then if they say no & I leave it there, then if they need one another time are they going to be more resistant because 'You let us say no last time'!

I would never force them to have one though.

OP posts:
HungryHippo11 · 30/08/2021 06:15

It is a request, not a legal requirement so you don't have to.

walksen · 30/08/2021 06:19

Tests and masks in schools have never been mandatory just recommended. My guess is most people wont bother unless they have noticeable symptoms and quite a few people not even then.

tigger1001 · 30/08/2021 06:31

They are so young - I'm just not sure it's worth the battle to be honest. Personally wouldn't have done regular tests at that age causing distress.

Especially as the lateral flow don't seem that accurate.

Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 06:40

tigger yes I think I will mention it & leave it at that. I wonder if many parents will actually do them.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/08/2021 06:44

I'm in scotland and it's only secondary aged children that are asked to do LFT tests twice a week

Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 07:08

dementedpixie Yes, I was kind of happy that mine aren't in high school yet & havnt had to worry about tests & masks etc. Yet!

OP posts:
Imfedupwithallofthis · 30/08/2021 07:31

Government -
No social distancing required, no face coverings required, bubbles gone
Mumsnet -
This is ridiculous, cases will spread like wild fire, why don't they put some mitigations in. Just wait until school starts next week. Think of my poor CEV child/parent/grandparent/significant other.
School -
(My imagination)
Well, we can't keep them apart any more. We can't send them home any more.
I know, why don't we ask the children, as well as the parents (as already recommended by the government), to take regular tests, we'll pick up a few positives, and might go some small way towards mitigation.
One poster -
The new tests are much easier.
Mumsnet -
Oh but the tests are horrible, I would never inflict them on my children. They are only advisable. The children are so young.

Please read again what @PenguinsCantFly has written. The new tests are quicker, easier, and far less intrusive than the older ones.

Those of you who choose not to do them (because they are not compulsory, not legally required, inaccurate, etc. etc.) -
Please do not go onto any school/teacher/why are cases rising so much/my SO is seriously ill threads and say 'but the government could have done so much more.'

Rant over. Half joking, half serious. Smile

MoggyP · 30/08/2021 07:46

It is very standard to test secondary pupils twice a week.

This is even more important as contact isolation has ended.

Imfedup is basically right. This is being done to reduce levels of transmission in schools and therefore increase the likelihood they will remain safely open.

Bottom line question is: are you going to do your bit in one of the only two mitigations there is for schools? (The other being to open windows)

Final point is that secondary age DC would do the tests on themselves - with the newer kits and the greater feeling of control over the process when you do your own - if all their friends are doing them too, they're likelymto fit back in

Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 07:46

Imfedup I'm quite excited to see the new tests! (I don't have much to be exited about)Grin

& I'm sure once the kids know they don't go all the way up, then they will be happy...(hopeful!)

OP posts:
Imfedupwithallofthis · 30/08/2021 08:05

Phew! Thought of name changing, thought I'd get slated Smile

I'm sure some will disagree, but as MoggyP says, it will be one of the only mitigations that this government will allow.

dementedpixie · 30/08/2021 08:09

OP doesn't have secondary aged children though so doesn't need to test them.

TimeForLunch · 30/08/2021 08:13

There really is no need or requirement to test primary aged children.

tigger1001 · 30/08/2021 08:28

@Imfedupwithallofthis

Government - No social distancing required, no face coverings required, bubbles gone Mumsnet - This is ridiculous, cases will spread like wild fire, why don't they put some mitigations in. Just wait until school starts next week. Think of my poor CEV child/parent/grandparent/significant other. School - (My imagination) Well, we can't keep them apart any more. We can't send them home any more. I know, why don't we ask the children, as well as the parents (as already recommended by the government), to take regular tests, we'll pick up a few positives, and might go some small way towards mitigation. One poster - The new tests are much easier. Mumsnet - Oh but the tests are horrible, I would never inflict them on my children. They are only advisable. The children are so young.

Please read again what @PenguinsCantFly has written. The new tests are quicker, easier, and far less intrusive than the older ones.

Those of you who choose not to do them (because they are not compulsory, not legally required, inaccurate, etc. etc.) -
Please do not go onto any school/teacher/why are cases rising so much/my SO is seriously ill threads and say 'but the government could have done so much more.'

Rant over. Half joking, half serious. Smile

Pointing out that tests are not mandatory and are not wholly accurate doesn't mean people aren't doing them.

Op's children are 8 and 4 though. It's not required in Scotland where I am for primary aged kids - only offered for secondary aged kids. I wouldn't distress my young children if they were getting that upset over doing them twice per week, it's not worth the long term battle and the possibility that they will refuse the actual pcr test if needed.

We do lft twice per week - but only because my kids have consented to them. If they said no, that would have been the end of the conversation.

Haven't heard anything about new tests - ordered more last night so will see if they are available here.

clarkkentsglasses · 30/08/2021 08:35

Will people continue to test when you have to start paying for LFT's?!

Lemons1571 · 30/08/2021 08:48

Nope not doing it here. My kids LFT’s were lovely and negative when they had covid (pcr positive, only booked pcr tests as requested to in a surge testing area). If the tests were accurate, I’d probably go to the effort.

tigger1001 · 30/08/2021 09:19

@clarkkentsglasses

Will people continue to test when you have to start paying for LFT's?!
No.
Original poster
KangaHippo · 30/08/2021 15:55

Lemons I hear that a lot, & it is a worry isn't it!

I will have to try & find out if other primarys around here are asking for them to be done, just out of interest!

OP posts:
Imfedupwithallofthis · 30/08/2021 16:04

@clarkkentsglasses

Will people continue to test when you have to start paying for LFT's?!
If/when we have to pay for tests (currently no decision appears to have been made), I would think that most home LFT testing will stop.

I might get a few boxes in now, to test in the future!

RoseAndRose · 30/08/2021 16:22

@clarkkentsglasses

Will people continue to test when you have to start paying for LFT's?!
Is that likely to happen? I know a rumour did the rounds, but it wasn't based on anything at all, and I thought it was pure anti-Tory invention
Crunchymum · 30/08/2021 16:59

Put it on FB and see if other local schools have done the same.

I am dreading the regular testing filtering down to primary schools.

drpaddington · 30/08/2021 17:03

We had an email from school reminding us that LFT's aren't meant to be used on primary aged children (it does say so in the instructions I believe.) So it seems odd that your school are asking you to do this.

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